Latest news with #SixthFormCollegesAssociation
Powys County Times
8 hours ago
- Business
- Powys County Times
Pupils receiving GCSE results ‘may face more competition for sixth form places'
Pupils who are receiving their GCSE results could face more competition for sixth form places this year, it has been suggested. A rising number of 16-year-olds and a growing interest in sixth forms could mean teenagers are turned away from oversubscribed settings, the head of the Sixth Form Colleges Association (SFCA) said. Meanwhile, an education expert has warned that competition for the most selective sixth forms will be 'fiercer' as the VAT change on private school fees may lead to more families seeking state-sector places. It comes as pupils in England, Wales and Northern Ireland will receive their GCSE and vocational and technical qualification (VTQ) results on Thursday to help them progress to sixth form, college or training. Bill Watkin, chief executive of the SFCA, told the PA news agency: 'I think as the population continues to grow – and the opportunities to increase capacity, to build new classroom blocks, is held back – it is going to go on getting more competitive.' He said that the success of sixth form colleges with their A-level results last week could drive up the demand for sixth form places even further. Overall, the proportion of A-level entries awarded top grades rose again this year – remaining above pre-pandemic highs. More than a quarter (28.3%) of UK A-level entries were awarded A or A* grades, up from 27.8% in 2024 and 25.4% in 2019 – the last year that summer exams were taken before the pandemic. Mr Watkin told PA: 'Colleges are already very well attended and we expect that to go up.' He said: 'It's not just that they're feeling the effect of the population bulge, but also they are enjoying considerable success which makes them doubly popular.' Speaking ahead of GCSE results day, Mr Watkin said: 'Some have got some spare capacity and can increase the number. 'Some have managed to build a new classroom block and increase capacity that way, and some are almost certainly going to have to turn some young people away because they are oversubscribed.' Lee Elliot Major, professor of social mobility at the University of Exeter, said competition for top sixth forms may be higher this year as more private school parents look to move into the state sector. The Government's policy to impose 20% VAT on private school fees was introduced on January 1. Prof Major told PA: 'Competition for the most selective sixth forms will be fiercer than ever, with fears over VAT on private schools likely driving more families to seek out places in the state sector.' He added that sixth-form admissions was the 'Wild West' of the education system as entrance requirements varied significantly from one place to another. Prof Major said: 'We need a fair admissions code at 16, just as we have at 11, to stop sixth-form entry becoming a postcode lottery and ensure every teenager is fairly treated and has an equal chance to progress, wherever they are from.' When asked whether teenagers could face more competition for college places this year, Catherine Sezen, director of education policy at the Association of Colleges (AoC), told PA: 'I think it will be tight. 'I think it will be much tighter.' She said that it would be easier for a college to offer flexibility in a classroom-based subject rather than in a vocational technical subject. Paul Whiteman, general secretary of school leaders' union NAHT, said: 'There is extra pressure on secondary and sixth form admissions at the moment, due to a pupil population bulge at that age. 'Some sixth form colleges may be oversubscribed, especially in certain areas of the country – for example in areas with large amounts of new house building – which could mean competition for places for some students could be high. 'However, there are a very wide range of post-16 options for young people including school sixth forms, sixth form colleges and FE (further education) colleges.' Pepe Di'Iasio, general secretary of the Association of School and College Leaders (ASCL), said: 'Any students and parents planning transition into post-16 education will want to consider a range of factors when selecting where they want to continue their studies. 'For those in independent sector schools, it isn't clear to what extent the implementation of VAT on school fees will play in that decision or how any increase in demand in the state sector would be accommodated. 'Funding is very tight in post-16 education and providers have to walk a financial tightrope ensuring that group sizes work educationally while also being financially viable. 'It seems sensible that the Government should monitor demand and how this is being met.' A Department for Education (DfE) spokesman said: 'We know that capacity is a concern for some sixth form colleges, which is why we have provided £238 million of capital funding to create 24,000 additional places in post-16 education up to 2025. 'In addition, areas with the greatest demographic growth, specifically the Greater Manchester Combined Authority and Leeds City Council, both received an allocation of £10 million in April 2025 to increase capacity and relieve pressure. 'Further education is crucial to breaking down barriers to opportunity and delivering the growth that our economy needs through our Plan for Change, which is why we are spending £1.2 billion more on skills by 2028/29.'
South Wales Guardian
11 hours ago
- Business
- South Wales Guardian
Pupils receiving GCSE results ‘may face more competition for sixth form places'
A rising number of 16-year-olds and a growing interest in sixth forms could mean teenagers are turned away from oversubscribed settings, the head of the Sixth Form Colleges Association (SFCA) said. Meanwhile, an education expert has warned that competition for the most selective sixth forms will be 'fiercer' as the VAT change on private school fees may lead to more families seeking state-sector places. It comes as pupils in England, Wales and Northern Ireland will receive their GCSE and vocational and technical qualification (VTQ) results on Thursday to help them progress to sixth form, college or training. Bill Watkin, chief executive of the SFCA, told the PA news agency: 'I think as the population continues to grow – and the opportunities to increase capacity, to build new classroom blocks, is held back – it is going to go on getting more competitive.' He said that the success of sixth form colleges with their A-level results last week could drive up the demand for sixth form places even further. Overall, the proportion of A-level entries awarded top grades rose again this year – remaining above pre-pandemic highs. More than a quarter (28.3%) of UK A-level entries were awarded A or A* grades, up from 27.8% in 2024 and 25.4% in 2019 – the last year that summer exams were taken before the pandemic. Mr Watkin told PA: 'Colleges are already very well attended and we expect that to go up.' He said: 'It's not just that they're feeling the effect of the population bulge, but also they are enjoying considerable success which makes them doubly popular.' Speaking ahead of GCSE results day, Mr Watkin said: 'Some have got some spare capacity and can increase the number. 'Some have managed to build a new classroom block and increase capacity that way, and some are almost certainly going to have to turn some young people away because they are oversubscribed.' Lee Elliot Major, professor of social mobility at the University of Exeter, said competition for top sixth forms may be higher this year as more private school parents look to move into the state sector. The Government's policy to impose 20% VAT on private school fees was introduced on January 1. Prof Major told PA: 'Competition for the most selective sixth forms will be fiercer than ever, with fears over VAT on private schools likely driving more families to seek out places in the state sector.' He added that sixth-form admissions was the 'Wild West' of the education system as entrance requirements varied significantly from one place to another. Prof Major said: 'We need a fair admissions code at 16, just as we have at 11, to stop sixth-form entry becoming a postcode lottery and ensure every teenager is fairly treated and has an equal chance to progress, wherever they are from.' When asked whether teenagers could face more competition for college places this year, Catherine Sezen, director of education policy at the Association of Colleges (AoC), told PA: 'I think it will be tight. 'I think it will be much tighter.' She said that it would be easier for a college to offer flexibility in a classroom-based subject rather than in a vocational technical subject. Paul Whiteman, general secretary of school leaders' union NAHT, said: 'There is extra pressure on secondary and sixth form admissions at the moment, due to a pupil population bulge at that age. 'Some sixth form colleges may be oversubscribed, especially in certain areas of the country – for example in areas with large amounts of new house building – which could mean competition for places for some students could be high. 'However, there are a very wide range of post-16 options for young people including school sixth forms, sixth form colleges and FE (further education) colleges.' Pepe Di'Iasio, general secretary of the Association of School and College Leaders (ASCL), said: 'Any students and parents planning transition into post-16 education will want to consider a range of factors when selecting where they want to continue their studies. 'For those in independent sector schools, it isn't clear to what extent the implementation of VAT on school fees will play in that decision or how any increase in demand in the state sector would be accommodated. 'Funding is very tight in post-16 education and providers have to walk a financial tightrope ensuring that group sizes work educationally while also being financially viable. 'It seems sensible that the Government should monitor demand and how this is being met.' A Department for Education (DfE) spokesman said: 'We know that capacity is a concern for some sixth form colleges, which is why we have provided £238 million of capital funding to create 24,000 additional places in post-16 education up to 2025. 'In addition, areas with the greatest demographic growth, specifically the Greater Manchester Combined Authority and Leeds City Council, both received an allocation of £10 million in April 2025 to increase capacity and relieve pressure. 'Further education is crucial to breaking down barriers to opportunity and delivering the growth that our economy needs through our Plan for Change, which is why we are spending £1.2 billion more on skills by 2028/29.'
BBC News
12 hours ago
- General
- BBC News
GCSE results 2025: Students face nervous wait for grades
Pupils in England, Wales and Northern Ireland will receive GCSE, BTec Tech Awards and other Level 2 results on GCSE pass rate is expected to be broadly similar to 2024, after years of flux during the Covid year, it fell for a third year bosses have warned there could be more competition for students getting their GCSE results to find places at sixth forms this year, because of their growing popularity and an increase in the population size at that age group. Bill Watkin, head of the Sixth Form Colleges Association, said some had managed to increase capacity and would have spare places, but added that others are "almost certainly going to have to turn some young people away because they are oversubscribed". Your full guide to GCSE results day, including how to appeal gradesThe 9-1 GCSE grade boundaries explainedWhat is a BTec and how are they marked?What is a T-level and what are the grades worth? Lee Elliot Major, professor of social mobility at the University of Exeter, said competition to get into top sixth forms "will be fiercer than ever", adding that fears over VAT being added to private school fees may drive more families to seek out places in the state Paul Whiteman, general secretary of the NAHT school leaders' union, said there was a "wide range" of other options for teenagers, such as school sixth forms and further education 170,000 students are due to get results for BTec Tech Awards, BTec Firsts and BTec Level 2 Technical courses, while about 110,000 will receive results for Cambridge pass rate for National 5, Higher and Advanced Higher exams in Scotland rose across the board this A-level results rose again last week – with 28.3% of all grades across England, Wales and Northern Ireland marked at A* or A. One pupil waiting for her results, Jaya, says she wants to become a dentist and hopes she'll get the grades she needs to start A-levels at Scarborough College next pupils getting results this week were in Year 6 when the first Covid lockdown was announced in March 2020, and started secondary school learning in "bubbles".Jaya, a pupil at St Augustine's Catholic School in Scarborough, said it was bittersweet to be leaving the friends that she met during the Covid pandemic."I think when I first came in Year 7 I was probably really nervous," she said. "I have found my people, my friends, and they have helped me become more confident." Last year, 67.6% of all GCSE entries were graded 4/C or divides grew in England, with the difference between pass rates in the highest- and lowest-performing regions is the second year that grading has returned to pre-pandemic standards across all three proportion of GCSE passes rose in 2020 and 2021 when exams were cancelled and results were based on teachers' was followed by a phased effort to bring them back down to 2019 return of grading to 2019 standards for a second year running means there will be less emphasis on how grades compare to standards before Covid, and more on how they compare to last year. In England, pupils who don't get at least a grade 4 in GCSE English and maths are required to continue studying for it alongside their next course, whether it's A-levels, a T-level, or something Department for Education (DfE) says pupils should retake the exam when they - and their school or college - think they are English and maths resits take place in November and May or June. How to handle results day stress when you're neurodivergentDo gifts and cash rewards help to boost exam grades?What is an apprenticeship and how well are they paid? Most pupils go into their school or college to collect their results, but this year tens of thousands will be sent their results in an DfE is trialling the Education Record app with 95,000 students in Manchester and the West Midlands, ahead of a national said they hoped it would save money for college admissions teams, while school leaders said students and schools would need "seamless support" to ensure the app works involved in the pilot will still be able to go to school to get their paper reporting by Hayley Clarke and Emily Doughty
Rhyl Journal
12 hours ago
- Business
- Rhyl Journal
Pupils receiving GCSE results ‘may face more competition for sixth form places'
A rising number of 16-year-olds and a growing interest in sixth forms could mean teenagers are turned away from oversubscribed settings, the head of the Sixth Form Colleges Association (SFCA) said. Meanwhile, an education expert has warned that competition for the most selective sixth forms will be 'fiercer' as the VAT change on private school fees may lead to more families seeking state-sector places. It comes as pupils in England, Wales and Northern Ireland will receive their GCSE and vocational and technical qualification (VTQ) results on Thursday to help them progress to sixth form, college or training. Bill Watkin, chief executive of the SFCA, told the PA news agency: 'I think as the population continues to grow – and the opportunities to increase capacity, to build new classroom blocks, is held back – it is going to go on getting more competitive.' He said that the success of sixth form colleges with their A-level results last week could drive up the demand for sixth form places even further. Overall, the proportion of A-level entries awarded top grades rose again this year – remaining above pre-pandemic highs. More than a quarter (28.3%) of UK A-level entries were awarded A or A* grades, up from 27.8% in 2024 and 25.4% in 2019 – the last year that summer exams were taken before the pandemic. Mr Watkin told PA: 'Colleges are already very well attended and we expect that to go up.' He said: 'It's not just that they're feeling the effect of the population bulge, but also they are enjoying considerable success which makes them doubly popular.' Speaking ahead of GCSE results day, Mr Watkin said: 'Some have got some spare capacity and can increase the number. 'Some have managed to build a new classroom block and increase capacity that way, and some are almost certainly going to have to turn some young people away because they are oversubscribed.' Lee Elliot Major, professor of social mobility at the University of Exeter, said competition for top sixth forms may be higher this year as more private school parents look to move into the state sector. The Government's policy to impose 20% VAT on private school fees was introduced on January 1. Prof Major told PA: 'Competition for the most selective sixth forms will be fiercer than ever, with fears over VAT on private schools likely driving more families to seek out places in the state sector.' He added that sixth-form admissions was the 'Wild West' of the education system as entrance requirements varied significantly from one place to another. Prof Major said: 'We need a fair admissions code at 16, just as we have at 11, to stop sixth-form entry becoming a postcode lottery and ensure every teenager is fairly treated and has an equal chance to progress, wherever they are from.' When asked whether teenagers could face more competition for college places this year, Catherine Sezen, director of education policy at the Association of Colleges (AoC), told PA: 'I think it will be tight. 'I think it will be much tighter.' She said that it would be easier for a college to offer flexibility in a classroom-based subject rather than in a vocational technical subject. Paul Whiteman, general secretary of school leaders' union NAHT, said: 'There is extra pressure on secondary and sixth form admissions at the moment, due to a pupil population bulge at that age. 'Some sixth form colleges may be oversubscribed, especially in certain areas of the country – for example in areas with large amounts of new house building – which could mean competition for places for some students could be high. 'However, there are a very wide range of post-16 options for young people including school sixth forms, sixth form colleges and FE (further education) colleges.' Pepe Di'Iasio, general secretary of the Association of School and College Leaders (ASCL), said: 'Any students and parents planning transition into post-16 education will want to consider a range of factors when selecting where they want to continue their studies. 'For those in independent sector schools, it isn't clear to what extent the implementation of VAT on school fees will play in that decision or how any increase in demand in the state sector would be accommodated. 'Funding is very tight in post-16 education and providers have to walk a financial tightrope ensuring that group sizes work educationally while also being financially viable. 'It seems sensible that the Government should monitor demand and how this is being met.'
North Wales Chronicle
13 hours ago
- Business
- North Wales Chronicle
Pupils receiving GCSE results ‘may face more competition for sixth form places'
A rising number of 16-year-olds and a growing interest in sixth forms could mean teenagers are turned away from oversubscribed settings, the head of the Sixth Form Colleges Association (SFCA) said. Meanwhile, an education expert has warned that competition for the most selective sixth forms will be 'fiercer' as the VAT change on private school fees may lead to more families seeking state-sector places. It comes as pupils in England, Wales and Northern Ireland will receive their GCSE and vocational and technical qualification (VTQ) results on Thursday to help them progress to sixth form, college or training. Bill Watkin, chief executive of the SFCA, told the PA news agency: 'I think as the population continues to grow – and the opportunities to increase capacity, to build new classroom blocks, is held back – it is going to go on getting more competitive.' He said that the success of sixth form colleges with their A-level results last week could drive up the demand for sixth form places even further. Overall, the proportion of A-level entries awarded top grades rose again this year – remaining above pre-pandemic highs. More than a quarter (28.3%) of UK A-level entries were awarded A or A* grades, up from 27.8% in 2024 and 25.4% in 2019 – the last year that summer exams were taken before the pandemic. Mr Watkin told PA: 'Colleges are already very well attended and we expect that to go up.' He said: 'It's not just that they're feeling the effect of the population bulge, but also they are enjoying considerable success which makes them doubly popular.' Speaking ahead of GCSE results day, Mr Watkin said: 'Some have got some spare capacity and can increase the number. 'Some have managed to build a new classroom block and increase capacity that way, and some are almost certainly going to have to turn some young people away because they are oversubscribed.' Lee Elliot Major, professor of social mobility at the University of Exeter, said competition for top sixth forms may be higher this year as more private school parents look to move into the state sector. The Government's policy to impose 20% VAT on private school fees was introduced on January 1. Prof Major told PA: 'Competition for the most selective sixth forms will be fiercer than ever, with fears over VAT on private schools likely driving more families to seek out places in the state sector.' He added that sixth-form admissions was the 'Wild West' of the education system as entrance requirements varied significantly from one place to another. Prof Major said: 'We need a fair admissions code at 16, just as we have at 11, to stop sixth-form entry becoming a postcode lottery and ensure every teenager is fairly treated and has an equal chance to progress, wherever they are from.' When asked whether teenagers could face more competition for college places this year, Catherine Sezen, director of education policy at the Association of Colleges (AoC), told PA: 'I think it will be tight. 'I think it will be much tighter.' She said that it would be easier for a college to offer flexibility in a classroom-based subject rather than in a vocational technical subject. Paul Whiteman, general secretary of school leaders' union NAHT, said: 'There is extra pressure on secondary and sixth form admissions at the moment, due to a pupil population bulge at that age. 'Some sixth form colleges may be oversubscribed, especially in certain areas of the country – for example in areas with large amounts of new house building – which could mean competition for places for some students could be high. 'However, there are a very wide range of post-16 options for young people including school sixth forms, sixth form colleges and FE (further education) colleges.' Pepe Di'Iasio, general secretary of the Association of School and College Leaders (ASCL), said: 'Any students and parents planning transition into post-16 education will want to consider a range of factors when selecting where they want to continue their studies. 'For those in independent sector schools, it isn't clear to what extent the implementation of VAT on school fees will play in that decision or how any increase in demand in the state sector would be accommodated. 'Funding is very tight in post-16 education and providers have to walk a financial tightrope ensuring that group sizes work educationally while also being financially viable. 'It seems sensible that the Government should monitor demand and how this is being met.'
